The copperhead is a member of the pit viper family, like most of the venomous snakes in North America. A moderately-sized snake, most copperheads are less than 36 inches with larger specimens reaching 48 inches. The snake is fairly stout with weights from 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound. The copperhead’s venom is relatively mild and while painful, is very rarely fatal.

The coral snake has the most potent neurotoxic venom in North America. They are brightly colored with primary black and red stripes with smaller yellow encircling stripes. A typical coral snake carries approximately enough venom to kill four full-grown adults, but they are much smaller than the diamond back only growing as large as 40 inches long. Coral snakes are unable to release their venom fully in a single strike and full evenomation requires a chewing-like process and a relatively long bite. However, fatality rates are estimated to be as high as 20 percent on a successful bite.

The Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, is the biggest venomous snake in the Americas, and may be the biggest in the world. With recorded lengths nearing eight feet and weights in excess of 35 pounds, this is a significant creature and is quite dangerous to humans with a fatality rate of 10-20% (although rates were claimed as high as 30% at one time).

Venomous Snake (1/4 HD Predator)
AC: 8; HD 1/4 HP 1
Resistance: 8;
Mods: W -2/N+2/S+2
Speed: 30'
Morale: -2
Stealth +2, Perception +2
Attack, Melee: -2 Damage: 1d4 piercing + poison (see below) (bite)
Attack from Stealth +2, 1d4 damage piercing + poison (bite)
Poison Bite (copper head): CON save +2 or take 1d4 extra damage
Poison Bite (rattlesnake): CON save or take 1d6 extra damage
Poison Bite (coral snake): CON save -4 or take 1d4 extra damage for 1d4 extra rounds
Snake in the grass: in any sort of natural cover, snakes are AC 20 vs. ranged attacks.
S+2, D+2 C-2, I+2,W+2,Ch+2

Once a week the snake hunter makes an animal handling check. If he makes it (11+) he comes back with a dead rattlesnake. For every three points he beats the target of eleven he gets an extra one (14+ = two snakes, 17+ = three snakes, etc.) On a roll of a natural one, he has hurt himself (or been poisoned himself) and must rest for a month.

Additionally, each week there is a one in ten chance that the snake hunter runs into something on his travels that ambushes him as he searches the rock outcroppings along the King Godwin River where snakes like to sun themselves. We can play that as an encounter, or resolve whether he survives that with a single die roll as needed.